H.—lsa.

No. 17. —Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness — continued.

43

Dnte of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1905. Nov. 24 Dec. 26 1906. Jan. 3 Jan. 8 Nov. 28 Nov. 29 S.s. Coriuna .. Pateena .. Claymore.. Squall .. Baden Powell Zealandia Wellington Wellington Auckland Wellington Wellington Wellington The vessel grounded whilst entering Napier Harbour on the 23rd November, whilst on a voyage from Gisborne to Napier. The engineroom telegraph connections between the bridge and engine-room carried away, and before the engines could be reversed the vessel's bow ran up on the beach. A diver was employed to examine the hull of vessel, and after tins examination he reported that vessel had sustained no damage. Soundings were also taken of the various tanks, but vessel was found to be making no water. This vessel struck the rocks off Dorset Point on the 21st November, whilst entering Wellington Harbour on a voyage from Onehunga to Wellington. The rolling-chock on the port side was broken and twisted. A number of the rivets in the hull were also started. She was placed on the Patent Slip, when a new rolling-chock was fitted, and the bad rivet renewed. The bracket of H.P. valve-spindle guide broke when off Walker's Island, near Jackson Head, at 12.30 p.m. on the 28th November, whilst on a voyage from Picton to Nelson. The breakdown to the machinery was caused by the cotter in the slide valve-spindle working loose. The bracket was strapped together temporarily to enable vessel to make port. On arrival in Wellington a new bracket was made and flited to replace the broken one. This vessel collided with s.s. " Kapanui " while on a voyage from Auckland to Waiwera. About twenty rivets were started at bowplating through the impact. All defective rivets were taken out and replaced with new ones. This vessel was especially surveyed for an extension of her certificate. Main steam-pipe was found to be defective at one end. The bad portion was cut off, and a new piece fitted. The pipe was annealed and afterwards tested to 240 lb. hydraulic pressure before it was put on board. A new Pope joint was fitted on one end of a portion of the main steam-pipe, and afterwards tested to 360 lb. hydraulic pressure before it was placed on steamer. This vessel went ashore at entrance to Patea Harbour when leaving that port for Wellington. Vessel remained on the beach for some time. After she was refloated she proceeded to Wellington for repair and survey. Some five hundred rivets were found to be loose, principally on starboard side of vessel's bottom plating, and the rudder was also damaged. The rivets were all renewed, and the rudder was removed, stook annealed and straightened, and replaced. This vessel touched the bottom when entering the Bluff Harbour on the morning of the 25th January when tbreast of the old Lightship's moorings. The tanks were sounded at several times during the day, but vessel was found to be making no water. A diver was employed to examine hull of vessel, but he reported that vessel was undamaged. This hulk was surveyed to enable her to make the trip to Wellington from Dunedin. An aocident occurred to the main steam-pipe of this vessel's engines on the voyage from Chatham Islands to Timaru. The pipe cracked right round at the flange on the boiler stop-valve. The defective part of the pipe was cut off, and a new piece of pipe and flange fitted, the whole being tested afterwards to 320 lb. hydraulic pressure before it was placed on board. This vessel struok some hard substance off Cheltenham Beach, in Auckland Harbour, while on a voyage from Warkworth to Auckland, on the 15th February. The vessel was surveyed, when she was found to have sustained no material damage. Jan. 10 Waiwera .. Wellington Jan. 10 Kapiti Wellington Ian. 25 Marere Bluff Tobias (a coal-hulk) an. 26 Dunedin feb. 14 S.s. Toroa Timaru Claymore.. Auckland 'eb. 19